CH to honor Labella through tree planting

CEBU, Philippines —  After having a pre-birthday tree-planting activity, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants another tree planting activity for the employees in honor of his partner and friend, the late mayor Edgardo Labella.

A surprise tree-planting activity in Barangay Taptap was organized by the employees of the City Hall including some department heads over the weekend. The mayor’s wife, Malou, it turned out, was also privy to the planned tree planting.

Rama said he was indeed surprised believing he was going to inaugurate a satellite office of the City Hall in the mountain barangays.

“Gikan sa kinailadman sa akong dughan, daghan kaayong salamat sa inyong gibuhat. I was so touched. Katong ubang napugos, pasalamat lang gihapon ko, pero katong uban kinasing-kasing,” Rama said yesterday, during their flag ceremony at the City Hall grounds.

It was a good time for the mayor to distress together with his family and employees of the City Hall.

“Everything went that well. And very interesting tree-planting and eating, plus singing,” Rama added.

For those who were not able to take part of that activity, another tree-planting activity will be done sometime in November.

“Ayaw mog kaguol, kamong tanan apil gyud ug tree-planting nato. Tingali, before December 1,” Rama said.

Rama, this time, wants to everyone to be involved.

“Everybody will be involved on a tree-planting in honor of our mayor Edgardo Colina Labella,” Rama said.

It will be Labella’s first death anniversary next month.

According to Labella’s son, and now city councilor, Jaypee, his father died from septic shock secondary to pneumonia.

The late Edgardo Labella briefly managed the City Hall after he won as mayor of Cebu City in 2019, beating Tomas Osmena.

Prior to that, Labella was vice mayor from 2013 to 2019 and city councilor from 1998 to 2001 and from 2004 to 2013. — GAN (FREEMAN)